Chester Union Free School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Chester Union Free School District

Chester Union Free School District serves a community in Orange County, New York, spanning pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across two school buildings: Chester Elementary and Chester Academy, which serves grades six through twelve.

The district enrolls roughly a thousand students. Its population is diverse: about two-fifths identify as Hispanic, two-fifths as white, and the remainder across Asian, Black, and mixed-race backgrounds. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data were not available, so readers cannot assess economic disadvantage from that metric. Enrollment counts for special education and English learner populations were also not provided by the data.

Academic performance shows a mixed picture across tested grades and subjects. In elementary grades (three through five), proficiency rates in English language arts tend to cluster in the low-to-mid range, though grade five ELA shows stronger results. Mathematics in grade three performs comparatively well, but proficiency drops meaningfully in grades four and five before rising again in grade six. By middle school, performance becomes less consistent. Grade eight mathematics and science both show proficiency rates in the lower-to-mid range, while grade eight ELA fares slightly better. Science proficiency at grade five is solid, but grade eight science participation dips notably below other grades, which a parent may want to look into further with the school. Overall proficiency in Chester sits in the top quartile among Orange County's districts, a meaningful strength, though the grade-level variation suggests some students encounter difficulty in the upper elementary and middle school transition.

High school testing results were not available in the data provided. The district does not report a four-year graduation rate, likely because the data source does not compile that figure at the district level, or because reporting was not done in the year measured.

Chronic absenteeism runs slightly higher than the county median, a soft spot worth monitoring. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle-to-upper range among county districts, above the midpoint.

The district has recently made two meaningful changes. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, every eligible child will be guaranteed a Universal Pre-K spot for the first time, with the program at Chester Elementary expanding from one classroom to two, plus additional seats at a partner early-learning center. In May 2024, voters approved a districtwide safety improvement capital project that will add secure-entry vestibules to both buildings and other security upgrades, a lasting change to facilities. That same month, voters transferred the long-vacant Maple Avenue building to Orange County while retaining the gym and athletic fields, ending years of uncertainty about the deteriorating structure and its carrying costs.

The district sits in a housing market where median home values are moderate for the region and rental costs are substantial relative to typical income. Mortgage costs and down payments make homeownership a significant commitment; renting remains somewhat more affordable, though still a considerable share of household expense.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

981

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 41%

Black 13%

White 39%

Asian 3%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

82%

—

Gr 3

65%

61%

Gr 4

47%

57%

Gr 5

60%

74%

Gr 6

28%

64%

Gr 7

36%

70%

Gr 8

37%

69%

Math

Gr EOC

94%

—

Gr 3

65%

Gr 4

43%

54%

Gr 5

33%

53%

Gr 6

71%

81%

Gr 7

33%

69%

Gr 8

32%

43%

Science

Gr EOC

—

Gr 5

63%

68%

Gr 8

40%

48%

Social studies

Gr EOC

70%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

CHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CHESTER ACADEMY-MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

65%

Grade 3

48%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 5

77%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

38%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

52%

Grade 4

68%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

52%

Grade 7

55%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

66%

Grade 5

44%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$526,110

Year-over-year change+3.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$461K to $564K

vs. state typical1.03x

vs. national typical1.43x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
10918	Chester	$523K	+3.7%	91.7%
10924	Goshen	$564K	+4.2%	8.3%
10921	Florida	$461K	+3.8%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,620/mo

Range across 2 ZIP codes$2,567 to $2,625/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
10918	Chester	$2,625	—	91.7%
10924	Goshen	$2,567	—	8.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,655/mo

Home price / national median income6.3x

Annual rent / national median income37.5%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$35/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$510,449 (+5.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.